Living and Loving Life in South Africa

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Kruger Babies

This past November, I spent 10 days in the Kruger National Park solo (in case you missed my first post last week about the trip, you can read it here). November is a great month to go to the Kruger. First off, since it is just before the busy holiday season, it is a lot less crowded. Temperatures are starting to heat up, but the good news is that starting in November, the camp gates open at 4:30 am and close at 6:30 pm. You can beat the heat by getting out early and head back to camp once it heats up around 10 or so for a break (or if you don’t mind the heat, you may just stay out all day until gate close like I usually do!). But the best thing about this time of year is that Kruger is filled with all sorts of adorable babies. The park explodes with cuteness and I want to share some of my favorite baby photos with you today.

Impala lamb, probably a day or two old

A big event in November is the birth of thousands of impala lambs. I arrived Nov 13th, which is normally right about in the middle of the birthing season. This year, due to the lack of rain, the lambs were late to arrive.You could see the ewes were ready to pop and I jokingly would stop and ask them where the babies were. I eventually saw my first and only baby impala on Nov 20th.

Impala ewes go away from the herd to give birth alone. This mom seemed a bit nervous about something unseen in the bush.

I saw many large breeding herds of elephants with babies of all sizes. In times of water shortages (like now) smaller herds will sometimes come together in search of water. Watching these impressive creatures drinking and playing together is sight to behold.

Large breeding herd with calves

This little baba was just starting to figure out how to use his trunk

Taking a break

Baby giraffes are called calves. This youngster was hanging out with a herd of impala and the nearest giraffes I found were over 1 km away. I hope he found his mommy.

Young zebra foal, his stripes are still mostly brown

I love my mommy

Watching vervet monkeys is one of my favorite things to do on safari. Their actions and expressions are so human-like and I especially love to watch the moms with their little ones.

Look how carefully she supports her baby’s head

I’m a cutie-pie and I know it

This one was a handful

One morning I came across a large hyena clan with cubs (yes they are more closely related to the cat family) of all sizes running and playing together. I’ll never understand why hyenas are disliked by so many people, I find them fascinating.

Get up mom, it’s time to play

I’ll just sit here and look adorable for the photo

The smallest cubs were still in the den but this one in the middle came out briefly to have a look at the world.

These cubs were quite rambunctious and mom had to calm things down a bit.

This rhino cow seemed to be trying to dig her way under the road and her calf was whimpering, not sure what was going on here.

Hippo calf ready to go for a swim

Warthogs are an animal that many people consider ugly, or at best, having a face only a mother could love. But how can you not love these little piglets?

9 little piggies and 2 mommies

I’m sure his name is Wilbur

Baboons are never lacking in entertainment value and the babies are oh so cute. I could sit and watch a troop and their antics for hours.

Hitching a ride

Let’s Dance

Jr was starting to get a bit impatient with all the grooming

And let’s not forget the birds.

Ostrich chicks. The 2 males are watching over the chicks while the 2 ladies are chatting out of the range of the photo. First time I have ever seen chicks, so adorable.

Egyptian Geese watching over their goslings having a swim

Crowned Lapwing chick at Lake Panic

I saved one of my favorite sightings for last. Lions cubs with a buffalo kill ! This is a story waiting to be told in its own post so stay tuned.